Exciting Discovery: Pony-Sized Dinosaur Unearthed on the Isle of Skye After 52 Years!

A dinosaur skeleton was discovered on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, back in 1973, but it wasn’t until recently that it was fully excavated. This skeleton is the most complete dinosaur find from the Middle Jurassic period in Scotland. The dinosaur, a pony-sized herbivore known as an ornithopod, lived about 166 million years ago. This find sheds light on an important but not well-documented time in dinosaur history.

The initial discovery occurred when parts of the fossil were spotted on a sea cliff at Elgol. It was too difficult to excavate due to the challenging location. Fast forward to 2018, a team of researchers led by Dr. Elsa Panciroli from National Museums Scotland, successfully retrieved the fossil with the help of a local boat company.

Once at the research facility, the fossil was examined closely. The team found a well-preserved spinal column, ribcage, and hip bones.

This dinosaur is part of the ornithopod family, which includes other bipedal, plant-eating dinosaurs like the famous Iguanodon. The research indicates that this dinosaur was around eight years old when it died.

The Middle Jurassic period, occurring from about 174 to 163 million years ago, is a crucial era in dinosaur evolution. Unfortunately, fossils from this time are not commonly found. However, the Isle of Skye has become a hotspot for discoveries, earning the nickname “Dinosaur Isle.” Past finds include small mammals like ancient shrews and Dearc sgiathanach, the largest known flying reptile from the Jurassic era.

Dr. Panciroli noted the challenges in extracting the fossil, emphasizing its importance. “This was a really challenging extraction,” she explained. “At first, we thought it was too difficult, but I believed studying it was essential.”

The Isle of Skye continues to unveil significant Middle Jurassic discoveries. Alongside the newly excavated dinosaur, there have been finds like Krusatodon, a small mammal, and Dearc sgiathanach, a massive pterosaur from 170 million years ago. The area also boasts many well-preserved dinosaur footprints along its coast.

Dr. Stig Walsh from National Museums Scotland views this dinosaur as a vital addition to the understanding of Scotland’s Jurassic history. Research published in Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh suggests that Skye’s fossil-rich landscape likely contains many more exciting prehistoric secrets yet to be discovered.

Professor Susie Maidment from the Natural History Museum and the University of Birmingham pointed out the difficulties involved in identifying this dinosaur. “The Elgol dinosaur has been tricky to collect and even harder to identify,” she said. She believes that the recent research in Elgol has unveiled a rich ecosystem of well-preserved Middle Jurassic animals and is optimistic that more extraordinary discoveries are on the horizon.